The Pittsburgh Steelers lost a heartbreaker to the Dallas Cowboys during Sunday Night Football in Week 5. After a promising start to the season that had them at 3-0 with quarterback Justin Fields under center, they dropped two in a row to take them to 3-2. Now, questions about Fields and whether he should remain the starter are being raised.
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Steelers' Justin Fields looks to pass against the Dallas Cowboys in 2024.
The original plan was to use former Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson as the starter, while Fields took some time to learn behind the nine-time Pro Bowler. However, he suffered a calf injury. That early injury delayed Wilson's opportunity to revive his career, instead giving it to Fields.
Head Coach Mike Tomlin has been his usual tight-lipped self about his plan for starting Wilson at some point. He has also refused to name Fields the official starter. That makes many people feel that there is an opening right now, on the heels of the two losses, for Fields to be benched and Wilson to take his place. On ESPN's Get Up, Dan Graziano said that he doesn't believe that will be what is said during Tomlin's weekly press conference.
"Look, we're going to hear from Mike Tomlin, I'm sure he'll address this. My understanding has been that they've been happy with the way Fields has played and given their other issues on offense, the lack of wide receiver depth, they're down two key running backs, the idea that Fields can run around and do things that help the offense that at this point in his career, Russell Wilson can't do, I think that works in his favor. So I would actually be surprised if they turn to Russell Wilson absent an injury to Justin Fields. But if he's getting healthy enough to play, it's definitely time to figure something out. I don't think he's going to want to be Justin's backup."
His co-hosts on the show said that the time has come for Tomlin to stop playing both sides of this situation and make a decision. Mike Greenberg added that if Wilson is still so injured that he can't play, Fields should be named the starter. In his opinion, Fields has replaced Wilson as the starter, even if Tomlin hasn't said it formally.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Justin Fields makes adjustments at the line of scrimmage against the Denver Broncos in 2024.
Domonique Foxworth and Jeff Saturday, also co-hosts, added that Wilson has no upside that the Steelers haven't already found in Fields. They have asked Fields to protect the ball, run their conservative gameplay, and limit the risks he's been known to take with his legs, and he's done that. Fields alone is responsible for all of Pittsburgh's touchdowns this year, either by throwing the pass or running it in with his legs.
Steelers' Passing Issues Aren't Justin Fields' Fault
Saturday also added that he doesn't believe the reason Pittsburgh aren't taking shots down the field is because of Fields, as many think. The topic of how conservative Tomlin has been has come under fire. Many feel he is being too conservative and refusing to make opportunities that open the game up.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' George Pickens hauls in a deep ball in a loss to the Colts during the 2024 season.
According to the former All-Pro center, the Steelers' issue is that there isn't anyone to catch the ball. Saturday said that Fields possesses the arm and the talent to take shots down the field, but there has to be someone there to catch it. After trading away Diontae Johnson, the Steelers failed to get another talented wide receiver to make their second across from George Pickens.
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